The Philippines in 2015: Slowly, on the Straight and Narrow

Summary

The year preceding a presidential election in the Philippines is a year of political caution where aspirants try to tread carefully over what is one of the most unpredictable political landscapes in the region. The same can be said of the current administration under the leadership of Simeon Benigno C. Aquino III, who rose to prominence and eventually won the presidency after his mother's death.

President “P-Noy” Aquino began his political career as the representative of the 2nd Congressional District of Tarlac, from where his family hails, and which he initially won in 1998. He eventually won a Senate seat in 2007 with seemingly no further political ambitions, until his mother's death in August 2009. This galvanized the support for Senator Aquino as evidenced by succeeding polls and an eventual victory by around forty-two per cent of the vote in the 2010 presidential election.

It can be surmised that in his last year as President, the administration rhetoric of tuwid na daan (straight path) is being watched by supporters and critics alike, as a legacy beyond that which his family name has brought him. There have been definite gains in political, economic and social areas, which may, at least in part, be attributed to reforms by the Aquino administration:

1. • The country has improved its standing in the Corruption Perception Index, from a 2012 score of 34 to a 2014 score of 38;

2. • The improvement in sovereign credit ratings (most recently from the Japan Credit Rating Agency [JCR] from BBB to BBB+);

3. • The passage of key legislation such as Republic Act 10354, “An Act Providing for National Policy on Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health”; and

4. • Increased domestic and foreign tourism.

The third quarter gross domestic product results show that the Philippines grew at six per cent, the third strongest in the region. While it is likely that the country will miss its yearly growth target, the head of the National Economic Development Authority, Arsenio M. Balisacan, notes that the country has not yet met its full economic potential.

The country's hosting of the 2015 APEC Summit also contributed to its positive international image as the red carpet was rolled out for heads of state, including United States President Barack Obama.